Craig Bellamy's ill-fated time on Tyneside was drawing to an end today after he sprang a major surprise and opted for a move to Blackburn. The 25-year-old Newcastle striker underwent a medical in Lancashire this morning with a view to joining former Wales boss Mark Hughes at Ewood Park.

Newcastle moved swiftly as they attempt to reshape their squad, tabling an undisclosed bid for Inter Milan's Turkey midfielder Emre Belozoglu. Bellamy, a £6million signing for the Magpies in the summer of 2001, spent the second half of last season on loan at Celtic after being shipped out by manager Graeme Souness following a television tirade during which he branded the Scot a liar.

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd confirmed: "Right now, Craig is talking to Blackburn and undergoing a medical." Shepherd also revealed that Celtic were trying to take Bellamy back north of the border right up until the player chose Blackburn.

"I can assure Celtic fans that their club did everything within its power to try and get the player. But it seems the lure of the Premiership is obviously too much," he said. The Scottish Cup winners were desperate to take up their first option on the player, but as their overtures came to nothing it was Everton boss David Moyes - armed with the possibility of Champions League football - and Aston Villa's David O'Leary who emerged as the favourites to capture him. However, having spoken to Moyes over the weekend, Bellamy was not persuaded that Goodison Park was where his future lay.

With O'Leary's efforts also apparently proving to be unsuccessful, Hughes has staged something of a coup to land a player who, despite his controversial reputation, has proved himself one of the most dangerous strikers around.